Tactics Formations & Team Selections Etc

[RedBeard]

Anyone else getting a bit fed up with the 'lets try to stay in the game for as long as we can' mentality or is it just me?

It is driving me crackers! That approach is fair play when reserved for top 4 clubs perhaps, but week in week out it is a negative, anti-football sh*t show. It was embarrassing on Saturday how non-adventurous we were, we didn’t even try and have a go - this is a team we turned over at our place and all the pressure was on them to get a result! 

I sincerely hope SC throws a bit more caution to the wind for the rest on the campaign, you cannot win matches by being terrified to leave you own half for 75 minutes a game.

[Salvatore Matrecano]

Anyone else getting a bit fed up with the 'lets try to stay in the game for as long as we can' mentality or is it just me?

Definitely not just you and Cooper is widely getting a pasting for the Shelvey - Ayew substitution too.
Thing is we were clawing our way back into the game at one point. If we had pinched a goal and spent the last 20 mins frantically clinging on for a squeaky win would you be asking the same question or hailing Cooper’s tactical genius?

My take is that we have been riding our luck at times for some of the results we have and got found out on Saturday. Nobody is saying go back to 352 and all out attack because we will get beaten.

But the whole point of bringing in Shelvey and Scarpa was to have players who were confident on the ball and bring it forward for a mobile front 3 (MGW, Johnson, Awoniyi when fit even Dennis) to work with. Not to play a defensive midfield and for the only outlet to be lumping it to Wood and Ayew.

[Sniffer Dog (Admin)]

Agreed SM. I realise it's a bit of a fine line and I have no problem with it against the Manchester City's of this world etc.

Like you said we have been riding our luck at times. Leeds at home and Wolves in the Cup spring to mind straight away.

[JollyLolly]

I am right behind you Sniffer, SC needs to grew some and the players need to show football on the front foot while being organized to protect our goal. He needs to find the balance right balance but as we all know if we go 1-0 down in a game away from home then the games lost from that point onwards, I want to see more from the team I support!

[Mcforest]

I wonder if the all the injuries to the defenders has shaken SC a bit and he doesn't feel like he can trust them fully so is adding in that extra level of cover in so they don't have to do so much covering of space.

He says he doesn't look at the league or the next game but as things draw to a close you can't blame him if he has and is thinking all we need is a point a game now and we can look to sort it all out during pre-season. Players back less changes and have them fully gelled. It's a tough position to be in and i fully expect some wobbles and that.

But yes i would like to see us set up to have a go from the start sometimes to put teams under pressure and not let them gain a early foot hold in the game.

[Salvatore Matrecano]

I wonder if the all the injuries to the defenders has shaken SC a bit and he doesn't feel like he can trust them fully so is adding in that extra level of cover in so they don't have to do so much covering of space.

He says he doesn't look at the league or the next game but as things draw to a close you can't blame him if he has and is thinking all we need is a point a game now and we can look to sort it all out during pre-season. Players back less changes and have them fully gelled. It's a tough position to be in and i fully expect some wobbles and that.

But yes i would like to see us set up to have a go from the start sometimes to put teams under pressure and not let them gain a early foot hold in the game.

I think there is an element of the injuries affecting Decisions yes The obvious sub was Scarpa for Shelvey but that would have exposed Williams more and I dont think Cooper trusts him defensively as much as he does Aurier.
That said Ayew totally baffles me.

[wassy04]

I wonder if the all the injuries to the defenders has shaken SC a bit and he doesn't feel like he can trust them fully so is adding in that extra level of cover in so they don't have to do so much covering of space.

He says he doesn't look at the league or the next game but as things draw to a close you can't blame him if he has and is thinking all we need is a point a game now and we can look to sort it all out during pre-season. Players back less changes and have them fully gelled. It's a tough position to be in and i fully expect some wobbles and that.

But yes i would like to see us set up to have a go from the start sometimes to put teams under pressure and not let them gain a early foot hold in the game.

I think there is an element of the injuries affecting Decisions yes The obvious sub was Scarpa for Shelvey but that would have exposed Williams more and I dont think Cooper trusts him defensively as much as he does Aurier.
That said Ayew totally baffles me.

Agree on Ayew, he's shown zero reason for him to be here so far, kind of feels like Cooper has pushed for him and now is forcing him in a bit.

I just said it on another thread but I think the injuries are driving things somewhat. I think Cooper had the team setup in a way he was really happy with post World Cup and then Taiwo got injured who was key to the way he'd set it up. I don't think Wood has been integrated well, Surridge despite being limited in some areas was doing a better job in the wide forward role and Dennis looks way more suited to the role (although understandably not being used)

For me, we should commit to Wood and play 4231 or drop Wood and start Dennis or perhaps recently fit Lingard in a 433. I'd actually argue having two set formations that the team is comfortable with would be good anyway and allow us easily to become more or less attacking depending on circumstances. 4231 exposes the full backs/CMs more but would allow Lingard, Scarpa, (probably Ayew) or even Dennis onto the field and use Wood in the way he's best suited, whilst allowing Brennan and MGW to play their best positions.

[ozzyten10]

Ayew was excellent v Man City in his cameo. Won 3 balls and was calm in possession and in the box for the goal. Didn’t see his impact v Fulham or West Ham so can’t comment on that.
I agree that 4231 / 433 arguments above. SC should have took more responsibility that he perhaps got it wrong rather than on players- which is unusual for him though.

[Sniffer Dog (Admin)]

Anyone else getting a bit fed up with the 'lets try to stay in the game for as long as we can' mentality or is it just me?

It is driving me crackers! That approach is fair play when reserved for top 4 clubs perhaps, but week in week out it is a negative, anti-football sh*t show. It was embarrassing on Saturday how non-adventurous we were, we didn’t even try and have a go - this is a team we turned over at our place and all the pressure was on them to get a result! 

I sincerely hope SC throws a bit more caution to the wind for the rest on the campaign, you cannot win matches by being terrified to leave you own half for 75 minutes a game.

We learn and get told in our Urban Combatives class almost every day that defending is the art of losing.

[nffc93]

Enjoyed reading that

[Plymouth red]

The stat for taiwo is particularly impressive. It shows that if we can feed him more then he is a striker of real potential

[nffc93]

The stat for taiwo is particularly impressive. It shows that if we can feed him more then he is a striker of real potential

Don't let Alan Hardy hear you saying that.